The latest incarnation of Flash Gordon is a tricky beast that has
both highs and lows and although it is loosely based on the original
pulp comic, it receives a 21st century makeover in much the same
vein of the latest Battlestar Galactica series unfortunately not
quite as powerful.

For those unaware of Flash Gordon, it revolves
around an elite local track star named "Flash" Gordon who discovers
that his scientist father may still be alive, even though he was led
to believe that he is dead.

From their the pilot episode begins that
leads to a variety of strange occurrences in his home town where an
alien creature is attempting to reclaim the "Imex" from the Gordon
family.

As Flash becomes involved, so does his ex-girlfriend Dale
Arden, a reporter who unwittingly becomes drawn into his search for
his father. From the planet Mongo comes the gorgeous Chanza, a
servant girl who has an agenda of recovering the Imex as does the
Baylin, a bounty hunter who ironically is, another gorgeous woman
from the planet Mongo.

Without spoiling the pilot episode, it is a
little weak when compared to the other episodes and does have a
"Sliders" feel to the entire premise of Flash Gordon. Thankfully, as
the episodes progress, they become more interesting, especially when
Flash spends more time on Mongo.

Classic faces from the Flash Gordon
mythology also make appearances in the modern incarnation of the
series such as Vulcan, the leader of the Hawkmen. It's definitely an
entertaining science fiction series that is quite clichéd and camp
at times, however does give the mythology a twist to the original
story.